Extracted From 1758-1908 One Hundred & Fiftieth Anniversary First Church of Christ New Britain, Connecticut

Compiled by Deacon Charles Elliott Mitchell April 25, 26 & 27, 1908

[Transcribed by Jane Devlin]

ORIGINAL MEMBERS - 19 Apr 1758

Pastor: Rev. John SMALLEY

From the Church at Newington:

Major John PATERSON & wife

Thomas RICHARDS & wife

William SMITH & wife

Ebenezer SMITH & wife

Thomas LUSK & wife

Samuel RICHARD & wife

Noah STANLEY

Ruth KILBORN

Experience, wife of Jonathan GRISWOLD

Ruth, wife of Robert WOODRUFF

Mary, wife of Daniel KILBORN

From the Church at Kensington:

Widow Hannah SEYMOUR

Widow Mary ANDREWS

Widow Anna BOOTH

Widow Elizabeth LEE

Benjamin JUDD & wife

Joseph SMITH

Rebekah, wife of Daniel DEWEY

Hannah, wife of Gideon GRISWOLD

Martha, wife of Samuel GOODRICH

Joseph SMITH, Jr., & wife

Jedediah SMITH & wife

Josiah LEE & wife

Isaac LEE & wife

Stephen LEE

James JUDD

Uriah JUDD & wife

Nathan JUDD & wife

Phineas JUDD & wife

John JUDD & wife

Joshua MATHER & wife

Elijah HART & wife

Judah HART & wife

Elijah HART, Jr.

Moses ANDREWS & wife

William PATERSON

Widow Hannah ROOT

John KELLY & wife

Joseph WOODRUFF & wife

Simeon WOODRUFF & wife

Simeon WOODRUFF & wife

Jedediah GOODRICH & wife

Nathan BOOTH & wife

Ladwick HOTCHKIS & wife

PASTORS

Rev. John SMALLEY, the first pastor, was born in the North Society, Lebanon, now Columbia, Conn., 4 Jun 1734; studied theology under Rev. Dr. BELLAMY; ordained and installed pastor of this church 19 Apr 1758, and continued in that office until his death, 1 Jun 1820, ae 86 yrs. Because of his infirmities and increasing age, a colleague was appointed in 1810, and he ceased, to a great extent, from pastorial & ministerial labor from that time. He held the pastorial office sixty-two years, and excepting Rev. Newton SKINNER, Rev. E.H. RICHARDSON & Rev. Dr. R.T. HALL, he is the only pastor who died in office.

Rev. Newton SKINNER, the second pastor, was born in East Granby, Conn., 10 Oct 1782, graduated from Yale College 1804; studied theology with Rev. E. GAY of Suffield; was pastor of this church from 13 Feb 1810, to 31 Mar 1825, when he suddenly died, ae 42 yrs.

Rev. Henry JONES, the third pastor, was born 15 Oct 1801, in Hartford, Conn.; graduated from Yale College 1820 and from Andover Theological Seminary, 1824; ordained and installed pastor of this church 11 Oct 1825. The failure of his health occasioned his dismission 19 Dec 1827. He afterwards became a teacher in Greenfield, Mass., and in the Cottage School in Bridgeport, Conn., from 1838 to 1865. He died in Bridgeport 9 Nov 1878, ae 77 yrs.

Rev. Jonathan COGSWELL, the fourth pastor, was born in Rowley, Mass., 3 Sep 1782; graduated from Harvard College, 1806; tutor at Bowdoin College 1807 to 1809; pastor at Saco, Me., from 10 Oct 1810 to 16 Oct 1828; and pastor of this church from 29 Apr 1829 to 29 Apr 1834, when he resigned his pastorate to accept an appointment made 21 Mar 1834, to the professorship of Ecclesiastical History in the Theological Institute of Connecticut, then at East Windsor Hill, where he served until 1844. He died in New Brunswick, N.J., 1 Aug 1864, ae 81 yrs.

Rev. Dwight M. STEWARD, the fifth pastor, was born in Durham, Conn., 31 Jul 1811; graduated from Yale College 1831; studied theology at Yale Theological Seminary; pastor of this church from 3 Feb 1836 to 15 Jun 1842; in Middlefield from 1842 to 1845; in West Hartford, from 14 Jan 1845 to 18 Dec 1850; pastor of the Reformed Church, Yonkers, N.Y., from 1 Jan 1851 to 1852, and of the First Presbyterian Church, Yonkers, from 14 Apr 1852 to 29 May 1870; having resigned from failing health, was without charge for some months; then stated supply several months at West Hoboken, N.J.; supplied at Schroon Lake, N.Y., summers of 1872 & 1873; supplied at Moriah, N.Y., from 1874 to 1879; pastor, Presbyterian church, New Providence, N.J., 1880; pastor, Plymouth Church, Portland, Me., for 1881 to 1884; resident in South Norwalk from 1 Oct 1884. He died in 1901.

Rev. Chester S. LYMAN, the sixth pastor, was born in Manchester, Conn., 13 Jan 1814; graduated from Yale College 1837, and from Yale Theological Seminary 1842; pastor of this church from 5 Feb 1843 to 23 Apr 1845. Failure of health then occasioned his dismissal. He went to the Sandwich Island & California, in pursuit of health, and returned in 1850. In 1859, he was appointed to the professorship of Industrial Mechanics & Physics in Yale College. He died at New Haven, Conn., 29 Jan 1890.

Rev. Charles S. SHERMAN, the seventh pastor, was born 26 Apr 1810, in Albany, N.Y.; graduated from Yale College 1835, and from Andover Theological Seminary 1838; ordained as evangelist at Woburn, Mass., 30 Nov 1838; pastor at Pepperell, Mass., from 1838 to 1839. He embarked at Poston for Palestine, 13 Jul 1839, and was missionary residing at Jerusalem until the loss of his health compelled his return to this country in 1842; pastor of this church from 2 Jul 1845 to 5 Sep 1849; pastor in Naugatuck from 21 Nov 1849 to 25 May 1869; pastor of the Presbyterian Church, Nassau, N.Y., from 1870 to 1875, and without charge there until Oct 1884. He died at Manchester Green, Conn., 3 Jan 1899.

Rev. Ebenezer B. ANDREWS, the eighth pastor, was born at Danbury, Conn., 29 Apr 1821; graduated from Marietta College, Ohio, 1842; pastor at Housatonicville, Conn., from 29 Apr 1846 to 4 Apr 1849. He was afterward, for a year, teachr of the Alger Institute, and also preacher for the church at South Cornwall; pastor of this church from 26 Jun 1850 to 12 Nov 1851. Impaired health occasioned his dismissionf rom his pastorate here; and he served as professor of Natural Science & Natural Theology at Marietta College, Ohio, from 1852 to 1867. He enlisted, 1861, in the Thirty-sixth regiment of Ohio Volunteers as Major, and rose to be Colonel. After spending two years in the army, he returned to his professorship in the college. He was serving the church in Lancaster, O., when he died, 14 Aug 1880, ae 59 yrs.

Rev. Horace WINSLOW, the ninth pastor, was born 18 May 1814, at Enfield, Mass.; graduated from hamilton College, Clinton, N.Y., 1839; studied theology at Auburn Theological Seminary, N.Y., & at Union Theological Seminary, New York City, graduating 1840. He was ordained 25 May 1842; pastor at Lansingburgh, N.Y., from 1843 to 1845; pastor in Rockville, Conn., from 28 Oct 1845, to 30 Nov 1852; pastor of this church from 29 Dec 1852 to 20 Dec 1857; pastor in Great Barrington, Mass., from 5 Jan 1858 to 19 Mar 1862. In 1862, he was appointed chaplain to the Fifth regiment Connecticut Volunteers, and served several months; pastor at Binghamton, N.Y., from 1 Dec 1863 to 26 Dec 1866; pastor at Willimantic, Conn., rom 28 Apr 1869 to 28 Apr 1881. He died at Weatogue, Conn., 7 Mar 1905.

Rev. Lavalette PERRIN, the tenth pastor, was born in Vernon, Conn., 15 May 1816, graduated from Yale College, 1840, and from Yale Theological Seminary, 1843; ordained, and pastor at Goshen, Conn., from 13 Dec 1843 to 4 Sep 1857; pastor of this church from 3 Feb 1858 to 31 May 1870; became pastor at Torrington, Conn, 31 Jul 1872. He became associate editor of the Religious Hearld in 1875. He died at hartford, Conn., 18 Feb 1889.

Rev. John Henry DENISON, the eleventh pastor, was born at Boston, Mass., 3 Mar 1841; graduated from Williams College 1862; studied theology at Andover Theological Seminary and with President Mark HOPKINS at Williamstown, Mass.; missionary at Hampton, Va., 1866 to 1867; acting pastor at South Williamstown, Mass., from 1868 to 1870; ordained at South Williamstown 30 Jan 1870, and pastor until 1871; pastor at this church from 8 Feb 1871 to 26 Sep 1878; acting pastor at the Normal Institute, Hampton, Va., from 1879 to 1880; spent two years in Europe; again acting pastor at South Williamstown one year; now pastor at Williams College.

Rev. Elias Huntington RICHARDSON, the twelfth pastor, was born at Lebanon, N.H., 11 Aug 1827; graduated from Dartmouth College 1850, and from Andover Theological Seminary 1853; ordained, and pastor at Goffstown, N.H., from 18 May 1854 to 30 Oct 1856; pastor of the First Church, Dover, N.H., from 10 Dec 1856 to 10 Dec 1863; pastor of the Richmond Street Church, Providence, R.I., from 30 dec 1863 to 8 Apr 1867; pastor of the First Church, Westfield, Mass., from 1 May 1867 to 5 Apr 1872; pastor of the First Church, Hartford, Conn., from 24 Apr 1872 to 1 Jan 1879, and pastor of this church from 7 Jan 1879 to 27 Jun 1883, when he died, ae 56.

Rev. George Stockton BURROUGHS, LL.D., the thirteenth pastor of this church, was born at Waterloo, N.Y., 6 Jan 1855; graduated from the College of New Jersey in 1873, and from the Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church at Princeton, N.J., in 1877. He was ordained 10 Jul 1877; pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Slatington, Pa., from 10 Jul 1877 to 26 Jan 1880; pastor of the First Church of Christ, Fairfield, Conn., from 1 Feb 1880 to 3 Feb 1884; and pastor of this church from 7 Feb 1884 to 1 Jan 1887; professor of Biblical Literature, Amherst College, from 1886 to 1892; president and professor of Biblical Literature, Wabash College, from 1892 to 1899; professor of the Old Testament Language & Literature, Oberlin Seminary, 1899. He died 22 Oct 1901.

Rev. William Burnet WRIGHT, D.D., the fourteenth pastor, was born in Cincinnati, O., 15 Apr 1838; graduated from Dartmouth College in 1857; spent a year in business; was two years at Andover Seminary, two years at Berlin & Halle Universities; ordained at Chicago, 1863; remained pastor of the South Congregational Church in that city until 1867; pastor of the Bereley Street Church, Boston, 1867 to 1880; installed pastor of this church 15 Feb 1888; dismissed 1 Feb 1891, to become pastor of the Lafayette Street Presbyterian Church, Buffalo, N.Y; pastor of that church until 30 Dec 1900.

Rev. George Henry SANDWELL, the fifteenth pastor was born at Ramsgate, in the county of Kent, England, 13 Dec 1849; educated at Clifton College and at the Pastors' College, London; ordained 1 Jul 1873, as pastor of the Congregational Church, Woburn, England; held pastorates subsequently at Ipswich, London, & Southsea; installed pastor of First Congregational Church, Toronto, Canada, 30 May 1889; installed pastor of the First Church of Christ, New Britain, Ct., 17 Feb 1892; dismissed to become pastor of the Congregational church, Leytonstone, England, 30 Jun 1897.

Rev. Russell Thaddeus HALL, D.D., the sixteenth pastor, was born in Richmond, Vt., 6 Oct 1844; graduated from Oberlin College in 1865, and from Union Theological Seminary in 1870; was ordained and installed pastor of Pittsford, Vt., 8 Sep 1870; remained there until 1 Sep 1879; pastor at Mt. Vernon, O., from that date until 27 Sep 1885; engaged in Home Missionary work in South Florida until 2 Oct 1887; pastor at Jacksonville, Fla., till 3 Jan 1892; then pastor at Greenwich, Conn., till 16 Dec 1897, and pastor of this church from that date. Died 9 Aug 1905.

Rev. Henry William MAIER, born at Seneca Falls, New York, 8 Aug 1866. Attended public school of the village, Hamilton College 1889 & Syracuse University 1890. Auburn Theological Seminary 1893. Pastor of the Oaks Corners Presbyterian Church 1 Jun 1893 to 1 May 1900. Supply at saratoga Springs, New York, from 1 May 1900 to 1 May 1901. Pastor of Union Presbyterian Church, Schenectady, New York, from 1 Jun 1901 to 1 Apr 1907. Pastor of this church since 1 Apr 1907.

DEACONS OF FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, NEW BRITAIN

John PATERSON, 1758-1762

Elijah HART, 1758-1772

Josiah LEE, 1772-1797

Isaac LEE, 17720-1802

Daniel dEWEY, 1772-1785

Noah STANLEY, 1774-1778

Elijah HART, 2d, 1780-1800

Timothy STANLEY, 1795-1817

Benjamin WRIGHT, 1801-1813

Elijah HART, 3d, 1805-1827

David WHITTLESEY, 1807-1851

Elijah FRANCIS, 1822-1846

Chauncey CORNWALL, 1837-1863

Norman HART, 1843-1851

Morton JUDD, 1851-1868

Alfred ANDREWS, 1851-1876

Roswell HAWLEY, 1851-1855

Albert D. JUDD, 1859-1864

Lemuel R. WELLS, 1859-1867

Henry P. STRONG, 1865-1897

Elijah F. BLAKE, 1867-1901

Charles NORTHEND, 1868-1895

George CLARY, 1876

Frank L. HUNGERFORD, 1876-1909 (d. 22 Jun 1909)

Edward H. DAVISON, 1876

Henry S. WALTER, 1893

Albert N. LEWIS, 1893

Cornelius Andrews, 1899

Arthur DeWOLFE, 1899-1904

Morris C. WEBSTER, 1901

Charles Elliot MITCHELL, 1907-1911 (Note:-- On 17 Mar 1911, the day following his completion of this work, Mr. MITCHELL passed sudenly away in the 74th year of his age.)